A parliamentary panel on Thursday directed the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to submit a report by February 17 outlining the amendments needed in existing laws to curb controversial content, such as the one involving Ranveer Allahbadia. The issue has sparked bipartisan concern among MPs.
During a meeting of the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, members from various political parties expressed their disapproval of Allahbadia’s crass remarks made on a YouTube program. They called for strict measures to penalize him and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Sources revealed that committee chairperson and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey echoed these concerns at the meeting, which was attended by Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju and other senior officials. Following the discussion, the committee sent a communication to Jaju under the subject “Review of Implementation of Laws Related to All Forms of Media.”
The letter stated, “With the examination of the subject ‘Review of Implementation of Laws related to all forms of Media’, and in the light of recent episode of controversy generated by the vulgar remarks of YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia in a YouTube short, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is requested to provide a brief note regarding the amendments required in all the laws (Act, Code, Guidelines, etc) related to media due to the emergence of new forms of technology and media platforms.”
According to sources, most members at the meeting agreed that existing laws should be amended to regulate content on social media and Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. They argued that current legal provisions should be enforced against individuals disseminating controversial content like Allahbadia.
Among those who raised the issue were BJP leaders Anil Baluni, V D Sharma, and Lahar Singh Siroya, along with BJD MP Sasmit Patra and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi.
Meanwhile, police have registered a criminal case against the social media influencer, who has since apologized for his remarks. Despite widespread condemnation, debates continue over whether such comments should be criminalized or addressed through stricter regulations.
The parliamentary committee has been actively discussing the need to revise existing laws to bring social media and OTT platforms under the same legal scrutiny as print media and linear television programs. The effectiveness of current regulations, which were drafted before the rapid expansion of the media landscape, has also been a key point of debate.
At a committee meeting on January 31, Dubey advocated for strengthening media-related laws and extending their jurisdiction to news portals and OTT platforms. He highlighted concerns such as “rampant” paid news and the increasing trend of news channels prioritizing sensationalism for higher television rating points (TRPs). Dubey also pointed out that serious news coverage was being sidelined as media platforms pursued TRP-driven content.
With inputs from PTI